Q and A with Siema Organic Farm

Q and A with Siema Organic Farm

“We have always had a passion for wholesome foods. So eating organic and growing organically is a natural progression of this.”

Nestled between the Hunua Ranges Regional Park and the Firth of Thames, beautiful Kaiaua is home to a subtropical orchard paradise. Having chosen to leave the city and live a life that is the thing of dreams for most of us, Gemma and Sione run Siema Organic Farm. Raising their children in touch with nature and producing some truly exceptional organic fruit. So what does it take to grow organically and make the switch from city life to running a farm? Read on to find out.

Why have you chosen to be a farmer and for how long have you been farming?

Looking at options to escape city life and move towards living in a more sustainable and holistic way of life, we then discovered Tikapa Moana at the market and it really aligned with what we were looking for.

We were familiar with Bill and Marilyn (the owners at the time) through the Grey Lynn market and Ooooby boxes. Having previously had very little experience of managing an orchard, we jumped at the opportunity to learn everything we could from Bill and Marilyn.

Over the 6 month hand over period our family spent every free weekend on the orchard with Bill and Marilyn who kindly shared their knowledge with us. It was a very special and unique situation for us all and we feel blessed to of had that ‘internship’ experience with them and we have now been on this land for almost three years.

Why organic / regenerative / biodynamic farming over conventional farming?

We have always had a passion for wholesome foods, so eating organic and growing organically is a natural progression of this. Applying permaculture principles to the work we do is how we farm in the orchard and we work with nature along the way.

We have also introduced some animals into the system, a flock of chickens and welsh harlequin ducks and more recently some lambs. 

“I think freshness is the key, we pick to order and this really makes a difference.”

Little lambs on Siema Farm

Why do you grow the products you do and what is your favourite produce to grow? 

Many of the trees that we currently harvest from are thanks to the previous kaitiaki of the land Bill Brownell. Lucky for us Bill ensured we produced fruit all year round from our subtropical orchard.

We have added in a few extras, like finger limes, lemonades, kefir lime, and expanded the banana grove. So we will be able to supply bananas in the future. Each season brings a new favourite for us and it is incredible watching the orchard shift and change. One moment we are picking an abundance of plums the next we have heaps of figs.

The seasons bring exciting creative opportunities for us. Any surplus gets captured and stored in some way, through dehydrating, pickling, preserving.

What are the biggest challenges you face?

With two children, an orchard, vegetable garden and the animals, we have the day to day challenge of finding enough hours of the day to get everything complete. Then there’s the bigger challenges of climate change and food security that are circling around the peripheries of our mind.

Siema farm with the family

What do you wish consumers knew and appreciated about the food you grow?

I think freshness is the key, we pick to order and this really makes a difference. The taste and nutritional value are at a peak and this, for us, is what food is about.

What effect has working with Ooooby had on you?

Working with Ooooby has been incredible for us. We feel aligned with Ooooby’s principles and core mission and that’s important.

When Ooooby first opened up in Auckland we were living in the suburbs and we were a customer of Ooooby. Gemma even did some packing and delivery a few times when they were operating from a container in Grey Lynn.

Knowing that we can work with Ooooby and get our produce out to customers. It is a blessing for a small operation like ours. 

“We really enjoy being out in the orchard picking”

What is the strangest / toughest thing you have tried to grow?

We have a few unusual and strange fruits growing here. I think buddha hand is the most strange looking.

What is your favourite fruit / veg to eat? 

It’s hard to say, We often find ourselves saying….”That is the best (fruit) I have ever tasted”

Do you have a funny story / anecdote from your time in the field?

We really enjoy being out in the orchard picking and I think every pick provides an opportunity for laughter. The most recent one that comes to mind is when we were picking casimiroa in the rain.

The long drought was beginning to break and the rain was so heavy. As a result, we were all soaking wet with massive smiles on our faces. The joy was incredible and all of us began dancing in the rain. Except for our woofer and dog, who tried unsuccessfully to hide under a tree. They did not look happy at all. 

Persimmons from Siema Farm

Do you have any particular recipes or ideas for the best use of some of your products?

We have so many and so I will share with you the ones that we are enjoying right now with the produce we have available. Fuerte avocado, limes and grapefruit.

I like to simply juice the grapefruit and have it first thing in the morning. I am sure it helps to keep winter colds at bay.

If you enjoy tempeh I have a great recipe for you – Fried Tempeh with lime and tamari.

Olive oil for frying
Juice of one lime
2 tsp tamari
1 block of tempeh.

Slice the tempeh into strips and fry in the oil on medium heat until golden on both sides. Whilst the tempeh is frying, juice the lime and mix with the tamari.

Once the tempeh is cooked and still in the hot frying pan (heat turned off), pour the lime tamari mixture over the tempeh. Leave to sizzle for a moment.


The tempeh is great on a salad or in a sandwich with Fuerte avocado and lettuce.

To find out more:

Do you want to see which of the delicious organic produce From Siema Organic Farm is currently available through Ooooby? Click here – Siema Organic Farm Produce

You can also see what Siema Organic Farm is up to by visiting their FaceBook page: Siema Organic Farm FaceBook

Visit https://www.ooooby.co.nz to get all your organic food needs delivered to your home and don’t forget that all this great produce can help keep you healthy.

Already a fan and want to help us spread the word while also standing the chance to win 1 year of FREE Ooooby produce. Read here to learn more: Ooooby Referral Competition.

Q and A with Peter Poschl from Ohaene Organics

Q and A with Peter Poschl

“We want everything to thrive – the soil, biodiversity, people working on the land and those who consume our produce.”

Situated in the gorgeous Kauaeranga Valley in Thames, you will find the Ohaene Organics farm. Peter Poschl and his family have been growing beautiful produce on this land since the late 1990’s. We had a chat with Peter to learn more about farming organically in New Zealand.

Why have you chosen to be a farmer and for how long have you been farming?

We bought our land in summer 1996 because we always wanted to grow food. We started planting fruit trees in the following winter. In 2000 we moved onto the land and did some small scale growing of globe artichokes. We seriously started market gardening about 8 years ago specialising in potatoes and Maori potatoes.

Why organic / regenerative / biodynamic farming over conventional farming?

Angelika’s parents back in Germany saw no alternative to gardening the organic way. They saw what damage chemical based agriculture did to land, people and the quality of food. There was never a question for us to do it differently. And we believe it is now more important than ever.

“we have a holistic approach”

Why do you grow the products you do and what is your favourite produce to grow? 

We grow what we like to eat ourselves. We know how fruit and veggies should taste. “Favourite produce” – I don’t know. Potatoes perhaps – the act of digging out beautiful tubers is something very satisfying. Fruit probably Belle de Boskoop apples, an old variety from Central Europe and THE apple to make apple strudel

What are the biggest challenges you face?

There are some. The last years had prolonged periods without rainfall (as we all know). We are very lucky to have a reliable water source but still – nothing beats a good summer rainfall … The other is probably increased bureaucracy. Compliance with the Food Act 2014 is paperwork-intensive and costly (at times throwing up the question of viability)

“There was never a question for us to do it differently.”

What do you wish consumers knew and appreciated about the food you grow?

That we have a holistic approach. We want everything to thrive – the soil, biodiversity, people working on the land and those who consume our produce.

What effect has working with Ooooby had on you?

We love the idea behind Out Of Our Own Backyards. We are glad we can contribute to it and are happy to accommodate our harvesting schedule to Ooooby’s needs as far as possible.

What is the strangest / toughest thing you have tried to grow?

Carrots – we never had any luck with them but we won’t give up.

What is your favourite fruit / veg to eat?

Beans, chillies, tomatoes, cucumbers – there is nothing better than the vegetable or the fruit picked when it is just right. 

Do you have a funny story / anecdote from your time in the field?

Well, it might be funny for other people – you plant several 100s of leeks only to come back in the morning to discover that half of them have been pulled out again with the culprits not far away: pukekos. So you plant them again and shoo the birds away. You go back in for your morning tea and when you come back to see some pukekos running away and lots of leeks pulled out again. Fish and Game, help me!

Do you have any particular recipes or ideas for the best use of some of your products?

Yes, too many to list or prioritise. You can get excited about a simple bean dish, a fresh cucumber salad, patate alla borghese (boiled potatoes, reheated in butter, lemon juice and parsley) and of course apple strudel (real paper thin strudel dough, filling of Boskoop apples with raisins, walnuts, cinnamon and a little sugar, rolled up and once done served with whipped cream).

“there is nothing better than the vegetable or the fruit picked when it is just right.”

To find out more:

If you would like to see which of the delicious Ohaene Organics produce from Peter Poschl are currently available through Ooooby, click here – Ohaene Organics

You can pop on over to Peter Poschl’s Facebook or Instagram pages – https://www.facebook.com/ohaeneorganics/ https://www.instagram.com/ohaeneorganics/

Visit https://www.ooooby.co.nz to get all your organic food needs delivered to your home and don’t forget that all this great produce can be made into delicious meals. Read here to learn more about falling in love with soup.